NC JUSTICE BRIEF: "Right to Work" Is the Wrong Approach to Economic Recovery and a Strong Middle Class

By Sabine SchoenbachWorkers' Rights ProjectFebruary 2013

SUMMARY

“Right to work” (RTW) laws have been on the books in North Carolina for decades, but lawmakers are now pushing to enshrine this status in the state’s constitution. Proponents of RTW laws argue they spur economic growth. Yet, research shows that in states where the laws exist, including North Carolina, RTW laws do not create jobs; rather, they lower wages and undermine the middle class.

Research demonstrates that increased union membership leads to higher wages—for both union members and non-union members—and greater access to benefits such as health insurance and pensions. Such increases in income and the benefits that ensure financial stability for working families strengthen the middle class and local economies.